Chapter 5 - Shaking the Auction Again

Tianyu walked into the Lin Clan's courtyard at dawn, his alchemy furnace packed neatly into a storage pouch gifted by the system. The faint smell of medicinal herbs lingered on his robes as he prepared for his journey to the city's auction house.

The task was clear: sell his refined Spirit Condensation Pills at the auction to gather system points and attract attention to his budding alchemical skills.

"Where are you going this early, Tianyu?" his father, Lin Zhentian, asked, appearing from the main hall.

"To the city auction house, Father," Tianyu replied calmly. "I plan to sell the pills I refined yesterday."

Zhentian's brows furrowed. "The auction house is no place for the weak, Tianyu. Our clan has no influence in the city; powerful families control the market there. They won't take kindly to outsiders disrupting their business."

Tianyu smirked. "Let them try to stop me."

Zhentian hesitated but finally nodded. "Be cautious. The Lin Clan cannot afford to provoke the wrong people."

---

[Ding! New Sub-Task: Cause a stir at the auction.]

- Reward: 300 System Points, Special Herb Pack.

Tianyu chuckled as the system's message appeared in his mind. "That's exactly what I was planning."

---

The city of Stone Brook was bustling with activity, merchants and cultivators crowding the streets. As one of the weakest cities in the region, Stone Brook lacked grandeur, but its auction house remained a hub of trade, drawing individuals from nearby clans and sects.

Tianyu approached the grand building with a confident stride, ignoring the curious glances from the guards at the entrance.

"I'd like to register an item for auction," he said to the clerk at the front desk.

The clerk, a middle-aged man with a disinterested expression, barely looked up. "We only accept items of significant value. What do you have?"

Tianyu pulled out a small jade bottle containing his Spirit Condensation Pills and placed it on the counter.

The clerk's eyes widened as he inspected the pills. "Low-grade Spirit Condensation Pills? Who refined these?"

"I did," Tianyu said casually.

The clerk hesitated, clearly skeptical, but the quality of the pills was undeniable. "These will be included in the auction, but don't expect much. Pills from unknown alchemists rarely fetch a good price."

"We'll see about that," Tianyu said, turning to find a seat in the auction hall.

---

The auction began with a series of mundane items: low-grade weapons, basic cultivation techniques, and minor medicinal herbs. The audience was composed of various small-time merchants, mid-ranked clan representatives, and sect disciples, none of whom seemed particularly impressed by the offerings.

Finally, the auctioneer announced the next item.

"Lot #27: A batch of three low-grade Spirit Condensation Pills!"

The audience stirred, their interest piqued. Spirit Condensation Pills were valuable resources for Qi Refining Realm cultivators, though their quality often depended on the skill of the alchemist.

"These pills were refined by an independent alchemist," the auctioneer continued. "Their purity and effectiveness have been verified by our appraisers."

"What's the starting bid?" someone called out.

"10 low-grade spirit stones," the auctioneer declared.

Tianyu leaned back in his chair, watching as the bids began.

"15 spirit stones!"

"20!"

"30!"

The price climbed steadily, with several small clans vying for the pills. However, the real shock came when a young man in the front row raised his hand.

"50 low-grade spirit stones!"

The hall fell silent.

"That's Lin Shen from the Zhou Clan!" someone whispered. "Why is he bidding so aggressively?"

Tianyu's smirk widened.

---

Lin Shen, a Qi Refining Realm cultivator from a mid-tier clan, glared at the crowd. "These pills are perfect for our younger disciples. I'll take them."

But before the auctioneer could finalize the sale, another voice cut through the hall.

"60 low-grade spirit stones."

All heads turned to a woman seated in the VIP section. Dressed in elegant robes, she exuded an air of authority.

"That's Yu Feiyan, an elder of the Azure Flame Sect!"

"The Azure Flame Sect? Why are they interested in pills from an unknown alchemist?"

Tianyu's heart raced, though he kept his expression calm. The Azure Flame Sect was one of the stronger sects in the region, known for their dominance in alchemy.

"70 spirit stones," Lin Shen growled, unwilling to back down.

Feiyan raised an eyebrow but said nothing, signaling her withdrawal from the bid.

The auctioneer's gavel slammed down. "Sold! Lot #27 goes to Lin Shen for 70 low-grade spirit stones!"

Tianyu chuckled as the crowd murmured in confusion.

"Who is this alchemist?"

"How can such a weak clan produce pills like these?"

---

After the auction, Tianyu approached the clerk to collect his earnings.

"These pills caused quite a commotion," the clerk said, handing him a pouch of spirit stones. "You've caught the attention of some powerful people. Be careful."

"Thanks for the advice," Tianyu said, pocketing the stones.

As he left the auction house, a familiar voice stopped him.

"You. Are you the alchemist who refined those pills?"

Tianyu turned to see Yu Feiyan, her sharp gaze fixed on him.

"Maybe," he said, feigning indifference.

Feiyan smirked. "If you're interested in alchemy, the Azure Flame Sect could use someone like you. Join us, and you'll have access to resources far beyond what your clan can provide."

Tianyu tilted his head. "Tempting, but I'll pass."

Feiyan's eyes narrowed. "Don't be foolish. Opportunities like this don't come often."

"I'll make my own opportunities," Tianyu said, walking away without another word.

---

> [Ding! Task Completed: Cause a stir at the auction.]

- Reward: 300 System Points, Special Herb Pack.

> [Ding! Bonus Task Unlocked: Establish dominance in the regional alchemy circle.]

- Reward: 500 System Points, Advanced Alchemy Manual.

Tianyu's grin widened as he walked back to the Lin Clan. "Let them watch. This is only the beginning."